Building a Sharper Investment Voice

Confidence at the Table: Yasmine Al-Hussein on Building a Sharper Investment Voice 

As an Investment Associate with Yaletown Partners, Yasmine Al-Hussein spends her days evaluating high-tech startups and helping steer Alberta’s innovation economy forward. Working on the firm’s Accelerate Fund, she supports early-stage ventures through critical decisions on deal structure, strategy, and growth. But in a space where every interaction can shape an outcome, Yasmine joined Ivey’s Canadian Private Capital Investment School with a clear goal: to grow her voice and sharpen her tools. What she found was a powerful mix of technical insight, practice-based learning, and a network that continues to support her long after the course ended.

What motivated you to participate in the Canadian Private Capital Investment School? 

First and foremost, I wanted to expand my network. Being based in Edmonton and focused on Alberta companies, it can feel a bit siloed. I was looking to build relationships with peers across Canada—to get to know other people working in venture capital and private equity in different regions and at different stages. 

Second, I wanted to test my knowledge. I don’t come from a traditional finance background, and by the time I joined the program, I’d been in venture for almost three years. I wanted to check how much I’d learned, identify any gaps, and see how my thinking lined up with industry peers across the country. It was a great way to validate what I knew and stretch into new territory. 

What learning experience stood out most for you? 

Yasmine Al-Hussein: The negotiation session is one I’ll never forget. We had two experienced partners come in and share practical techniques—what works, what doesn’t, and how to maintain leverage. Then we went straight into a simulation and tried it all out in real time. It was incredibly valuable to move from theory to practice that quickly. 

One tip that stuck with me was about body language—specifically nodding. I’m naturally someone who nods while listening, but in a negotiation setting, that can be read as agreement. That one insight helped me completely reframe how I show up in the room. I use the techniques from that session all the time now, especially when I’m negotiating directly with founders on deal terms, structure, and legal considerations. It gave me both confidence and control.

How did your learning affect your work and your team? 

Yasmine Al-Hussein: Because we have a small team, I have a lot of responsibility in how deals get evaluated, negotiated, and brought to the table. What I learned in the program expanded the range of things I can take on independently. Where I might have needed a colleague to support me in a challenging conversation before, I now feel confident leading that conversation myself. 

It also had strategic impact. We spent time in the program analyzing market trends and talking about how they should or shouldn’t shape investment theses. At the time, we were closing one fund and planning for the next. I used that learning directly in helping shape the strategy and focus areas for our future fund. The timing was perfect. 

What was the most challenging part of applying what you learned? 

The diversity of experience in the room was amazing—but it also meant that not everything applied equally to everyone. Some people were from later-stage funds or more private equity-style environments. I work with pre-seed and seed-stage companies. So I had to take certain insights and scale them down to fit my day-to-day reality. 

It wasn’t a problem, but it did require me to adapt and interpret the learning through the lens of early-stage investing. That challenge actually made the experience richer—it forced me to think critically about what I was hearing and how it could serve me in a different context.

What’s next in your leadership journey? 

I’ve really fallen in love with this field. I want to grow into a senior leadership role—continuing to build my skills and take on more complex deals. I already observe on several boards representing our fund, but I want to go beyond asking good questions. I want to be a value-added board member—someone who contributes meaningfully to a company’s growth strategy. 

A big part of that will be learning through experience, but I also want to stay connected to my cohort. I keep in touch with several people I met in the program, and I hope we continue to grow together and support one another in this space. It’s a tight industry, and relationships matter. 

Any final reflections on your experience with Ivey? 

It was one of the best-run programs I’ve participated in. The content was rich, the pace was intense, and it struck the perfect balance between theory and practice. I especially appreciated the capstone experience—getting to work on a real opportunity presented by an entrepreneur who trusted us to engage with his business. That was a highlight. 

The diversity of the group—geographically, professionally, and across firm stages—added so much. Hearing how others think and approach decisions helped me refine my own thinking. It wasn’t just about gaining knowledge—it was about sharpening how I see opportunities and how I show up as an investor.